Tunisia Sentences Anti-Racism Activist to 8 Years

The sentencing of anti-racism activist Saadia Mosbah marks a further tightening of Tunisia’s political and legal environment, reflecting a broader pattern of restrictions on civil society since 2021.

A Tunisian court handed Mosbah, 66, an eight-year prison sentence and a fine of £26,000 ($35,000) on charges of money laundering and illicit enrichment.

Arrested in May 2024, she leads the anti-racism group Mnèmty and has been a prominent advocate for sub-Saharan migrants, particularly after a 2023 speech by President Kais Saied warning of “hordes of illegal migrants.”

Mosbah’s legal team rejected the charges, arguing they lacked foundation. “The verdict is a major shock, and it is part of a broader effort to dismantle civil society groups,” her lawyer Hela Ben Salem told Reuters. She added the case reflects attempts to shift responsibility for migration pressures onto NGOs.

The court also sentenced Mosbah’s son to three years and another activist to two years, according to AFP. The proceedings included multiple defendants, underscoring the collective nature of the charges against advocacy networks.

The ruling follows President Saied’s dissolution of parliament in 2021, after which opposition figures and rights groups have warned of a steady erosion of freedoms. Authorities have suspended several organizations, including the Tunisian Forum for Economic and Social Rights and the Association of Democratic Women, citing financial audits linked to foreign funding.

In a February 13 case, a Tunisian court denied provisional release to lawyer Ahmed Souab and delayed his appeal to February 23 despite health concerns, reinforcing concerns about judicial pressure in politically sensitive cases.

International organizations have linked Mosbah’s prosecution to wider trends. The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders and the World Organisation Against Torture said the case forms “part of a broader pattern of intensifying repression of civil society in Tunisia.”

Recent actions extend beyond migration advocacy. On March 7, authorities detained activists linked to a Gaza aid flotilla involving more than 1,000 participants from Spain, Tunisia, and Italy, while also launching financial investigations into related donation campaigns.

Tunisia’s measures unfold amid rising migration flows, with the country serving as a key transit point toward Europe. Authorities have increased deportations and tightened legal controls on irregular migration networks.

Rights groups argue these policies risk constraining humanitarian operations and limiting independent advocacy.